Battery charging apparatus

Abstract

The present invention provides a battery charging apparatus with reduced weight, volume and manufacturing cost. The apparatus includes: an alternating current power source including a first electrode and a second electrode and supplying an alternating voltage for charging the battery; a diode including an anode electrode connected to the battery and a cathode electrode connected to the second electrode and half-wave rectifying the alternating voltage applied from the alternating current power source; a three-phase motor connected to the first electrode and transmitting to the battery the half-wave rectified voltage applied from the diode and the alternating current power source; and an inverter connected between the three-phase motor and the battery and converting the voltage applied from the three-phase motor into a direct voltage to transmit the direct voltage to the battery. Alternatively, the apparatus may comprise an alternating current power source, an inverter, a three-phase motor and a switching unit.

1 . An apparatus for charging a battery comprising:
 an alternating current power source including a first electrode and a second electrode and supplying an alternating voltage for charging the battery;   a diode including an anode electrode connected to the battery and a cathode electrode connected to the second electrode and half-wave rectifying the alternating voltage applied from the alternating current power source;   a three-phase motor connected to the first electrode and transmitting to the battery the half-wave rectified voltage applied from the diode and the alternating current power source; and   an inverter connected between the three-phase motor and the battery and converting the voltage applied from the three-phase motor into a direct voltage to transmit the direct voltage to the battery.   
   
   
       2 . An apparatus for charging a battery comprising:
 an alternating current power source supplying an alternating voltage for charging the battery;   a three-phase motor connected to the alternating current power source and including windings and a neutral point;   an inverter connected between the three-phase motor and the battery and converting the alternating voltage applied from the alternating current power source into a direct voltage to transmit the direct voltage to the battery; and   a switching unit including a first switch, a second switch, and a third switch and connected to the neutral point of the three-phase motor and the respective windings of the three-phase motor.   
   
   
       3 . The battery charging apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the alternating voltage applied from the alternating current power source is converted into a direct voltage by the windings of the three-phase motor and the inverter and then applied to the battery. 
   
   
       4 . The battery charging apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the alternating current power source comprises a first electrode connected between the three-phase motor and the second switch, and a second electrode connected between the three-phase motor and the third switch. 
   
   
       5 . The battery charging apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch of the switching unit, while the battery is charged, are turned off such that the alternating voltage of the alternating current power source is applied to the battery through the windings of the three-phase motor to charge the battery. 
   
   
       6 . The battery charging apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch of the switching unit, while the three-phase motor is driven by the battery, are turned on such that the respective windings of the three-phase motor are connected to the neutral point of the three-phase motor.